How to stop a dog fight? HELP

[howardh]

I have two bulldogs that have known each other since pups that have started to fight explosive out of the blue fights.

I don’t need advice on rehoming or trainers I am working on that just some tips on breaking them apart once the figt starts and I know the signs but sometimes they lock before I can diffuse it.

I am talking two 85 pound dogs in a death match and just me there. I know they get disoriented when held up but holding two dogs locked is quite a task.

I repeat HOLDING two dog up. I have thought about keeping a bucket of water handy but once you toss it do they back off or just regroup and charge again. I say this as I have broken them apart and they just recharge. I am scared one will kill the other HELP.

[Big_Grey_hunter]

SEperate them. NOw. Because you are right, they will kill each other.

[threedogpack]

keep them separated. Really. If these two dogs hate each other that much, you can’t have them together. That alone will prevent a fight. If you don’t have heavy, wire metal crates, get some.

If sh*t happens and they do get out together, DO NOT PUT YOUR HANDS/ARMS IN THE WAY. Get a chair to shove betweeen them, use a baby gate to push between them, keep a piece of plywood to slide between them.

While you are being careful to keep them separated, teach each of them that the chair/babygate/plywood is to be moved away from if it comes toward them. Tho it probably won’t hold when they are in the midst of a fight, it may condition them to move back.

[howardh]

Is this the only answer? They are fine 99 percent of the time and I do have a
Pro comoing to help me but I have been alone twice when a fight happens and a 130 pound woman vs 190 lbs of bulldog sucks god bless adrenaline.

I am looking for help on how to BREAK UP THE FIGHT. For that moment in time when they are not separted…

[jnel]

Muzzle them until you figure it out. Its not cruel and they will get used to it. Never leave them alone together, if you can’t be there with them then put them in a crate. Good luck with this.

[Big_Grey_hunter]

Keep a bucket of water handy and a sturdy plank of wood or heavy duty baby gate. throw the bucket on them to get them momentarily seperated, then shove the plank/baby gate imbetween them to keep them seperated. If only one dog is doing the attacking (doesn’t sound like this is the case) you can grab the attacker by the back legs and yank them away. They can’t reach around and bite you if you keep hold of their back legs. This doesn’t work if both dogs are attacking though.

I assume these dogs are never left together when you aren’t around?

[howardh]

No this is all so recent! We separate them when gone.

I don’t think a baby gate would do much as they lock and anything I try to get between them is a joke. I always have someone with me to pull the, apart but today i was alone at least a alone adult wise!!

Has anyone used a cattle prod ???

[BigPaintHorse]

Grab the tail or back legs of one dog and drag them to a doorway. Then close the door on their heads until one let’s go and close door to separate them. We do boarding and training and have our dogs who don’t always like each other.

[cowboymom]

lariat rope-drop a loop on whatever you can tighten down on and drag away quickly. Get them both if you can. And good luck! Bullies don’t give up easy!

[Arizona_DQ]

You know they will fight, you know they would kill each other if given the chance…, do NOT let them be together EVER again!

There should be NO instance anymore when they are together!!! Take the responsibilty to not allow this to happen again!!!:mad::mad:

[Philibuster]

Since you won’t/can’t separate them, try a training collar (ie shock collar) on each dog. Get a good brand (I recommend Innotek) and a model that is specifically designed for stubborn dogs. Make sure it is properly fitted (only one finger should fit between the collar and the neck). Do some training using it with each dog alone so that you can determine the lowest setting that they feel it at and respond to.
And get a good baseball bat and pepper spray to have for emergencies.

[alto]

I have two bulldogs that have known each other since pups that have started to fight explosive out of the blue fights.

Either rehome one
or
crate & separate at all times.
I assume they approaching maturity & have started fighting for dominance “there can only be one” - doesn’t matter if they are “good” 99% of the time, one day, there will be only one

I do know people that have chosen the crate & rotate & done it for 10+ years but I can’t see that as a personal option …

[alto]

[QUOTE=Philibuster;5744532]
Since you won’t/can’t separate them, try a training collar (ie shock collar) on each dog. Get a good brand (I recommend Innotek) and a model that is specifically designed for stubborn dogs. Make sure it is properly fitted (only one finger should fit between the collar and the neck). Do some training using it with each dog alone so that you can determine the lowest setting that they feel it at and respond to.
And get a good baseball bat and pepper spray to have for emergencies.[/QUOTE]

This can lead to redirected aggression towards the other dog.

[threedogpack]

[QUOTE=howardh;5744371]
No this is all so recent! We separate them when gone.

I don’t think a baby gate would do much as they lock and anything I try to get between them is a joke. I always have someone with me to pull the, apart but today i was alone at least a alone adult wise!!

Has anyone used a cattle prod ???[/QUOTE]

if you hit them hard enough, either from the top down on their face/neck or jam that baby gate on their feet/toes, they will at least hesitate.

[Foxtrot_s]

Presumably they are neutered. Are they jealous of you - were you closer to one or patting one? Was it mealtimes - lots of instances can be headed off at the pass if you know what causes the reaction. Is one the attacker, or are they both troublemakers? We have one we keep separated and it is a flippin’ pia.

Is there such a thing as a muzzle for bulldogs - it makes for an amusing visual.

[CR_Gorge_Girl]

[QUOTE=Foxtrot’s;5744554]
Presumably they are neutered. Are they jealous of you - were you closer to one or patting one? Was it mealtimes - lots of instances can be headed off at the pass if you know what causes the reaction. Is one the attacker, or are they both troublemakers? We have one we keep separated and it is a flippin’ pia.

Is there such a thing as a muzzle for bulldogs - it makes for an amusing visual.[/QUOTE]

http://www.american-bulldog-dog-breed-store.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=7

[marta]

i agree with those who said they should be separated. you can’t be sure that you’ll be able to intervene safely without one of them getting seriously hurt or killed.

also, use of an aversive (cattle prong you suggested:eek:) you first, can’t be sure that it’ll work b/c once they’re in that frenzied stage they don’t let go even if pain is inflicted, second, it may have an opposite effect with the dogs latching on more and becoming more aggressive.

i had some exposure to american bulldogs few years ago through a breeder who was a BM at our boarding barn. in my experience each and every dog she had (and they were not all related) had a dog aggression issue at some point. they all did much better in single dog households.

[dalpal]

[QUOTE=BigPaintHorse;5744373]
Grab the tail or back legs of one dog and drag them to a doorway. Then close the door on their heads until one let’s go and close door to separate them. We do boarding and training and have our dogs who don’t always like each other.[/QUOTE]

Yup…this is what a friend told me to do when I had an aggressive foster in my house. Never had to do it, but this was the way she broke up fights in her house.

[HydroPHILE]

Crate and Rotate, and look into “Breaksticks.” Bulldogs and other “Bully Breeds” have Dog Aggression as a breed trait, not a breed flaw. Same-sex DA is even worse. Cattle prod? Nope. Training collar? Nope. You’re going to create over-reactive dogs with either.

You don’t say what kind of Bulldogs they are, people are assuming they’re ABs.

[howardh]

I have heard that putting a shock collar or something like that (cattle prod) would just make it worse so I have not tried that.

I guess muzzles it is until I can find a home for one. People are lining up to take a dog aggressive dog I am sure.

Yes they are neutered. These are Old English Bulldogges, not AB. I absolutely love them, they have so many great qualities but dog aggression totally sucks. I am not a rookie dog owner. I have had many breeds over the years and have never dealt with this before. One minute these dogs are best buds and in an instant it is a death match.

I find it most difficult to get them apart as they will lock on to each other and it is impossible to make them give. Easier with two, not so easy alone, but the door is a great tip thanks for that.